Skindiver&#39;s belt



June 22, 1965 D. WHEELER SKINDIVER'S BELT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 14, 1963 Flai mm Wm WWUII INVENTOR ATTORNEY D. WHEELER 3,190,513

SKINDIVER'S BELT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

June 22, 1965 Filed Jan. 14, 1963 INVENTOR ATTORNEY otllllllllllllll. illl Fler. 9

United States Patent O Mthi SEGNDTVERS BELT Dudiey Wheeier, iluriington, Vt. (2927 W. Tower Ave., Cincinnati, Ghia) Eiied dan. lll, 1%3, Ser.. No. ZSLMW 2 Ciaints. (Ui. 22d- 5) The object of this invention is to provide a waterproof container for securing and carrying, while swimming, such items as a wallet, watch7 car keys, or other small valuables. A further object of this invention is to enable a watch to be carried in a dry condition inside a transparent covering ,so that it can be looked `at by the swimmer and thus keep track of his remaining air supply.

A further object of this invention is to combine with the container a means for intiating it so that in an emergency it can be used `as a life preserver. The same means can also oe used to del'late it so that it will not produce unwanted buoyancy or drag on the swimmer.

Another object is to provide :an item which can be easily and economically produced so as to be saleable and `attractive to the growing number of skindivers.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE l shows a front View of the skindivers belt.

FIGURE 2 shows a bottom view of ETGURE i.

`ElGURE 3 shows a back view, or the side that rests against the swirnmers body.

FIGURE 4 is a section of the lines Sw-4 of FIGURE 1.

`ETGURE 5 is a section on the lines 5 5 of FiGUR-E 1.

yFTGURE 6 is a section on the lines 6-6 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a section on the lines 7-7 of FIGURE 8.

'FIGURE 8 is a front view of a doublecompartrnent belt.

EGURE 9 is an enlarged view of a belt showing a watch, wallet and lighter outlined within the belt.

Referring to FIGURES 1 through 6, the securing or belt portion is shown at It with a conventional buckle at 2. The container portion of the belt is shown at 3 with an outer Wall 2.a.. and an inner wall 3b. The latter may be a separate wall as here shown and secured to the belt portion ll with a suitable adhesive or other means, or in a modication, could be part oi the securing belt.

An access end with an opening `for the container is provided at d. The ends d of the container walls fold under the sealing cam 7 which is supported by pin ti in the U-shaped piece 9. The U-shaped piece may be held t the belt lby clip d@ secured by adhesive or -other means. Or the U-shaped piece `and cam may be loose so they can be slid toward the buckle to make access to the inside of the container easier.

A tube for intiating or dedating the container is shown at t2. It is connected through the outer wall at i3, held in place against the `surface of the container by clips 14 and has a sealing cap 1S.

On the inside of the outer wall 3a, a pocket 16 yis provided. with an open end l? toward the access end of the container. A slot 16a is shown at the left end of the pocket through which a watch band may be inserted. The pocket is suitable for holding a watch with its face against WEB Fatented June 22, 1965 ICC the transparent outer wall .so that it can be easily read while under water.

FGURES 7, 8 and 9 show a modification with an inner partition 3c. The inner wall 3c wili hold objects placed between 3c and 3b against the body and lfrom bouncing around if the container should be inated for use as a life preserver. The perorations 17 `are provided to permit tree passage of air between the compartments as when sucking out residual air after sealing the container. Except as noted 4above other similar parts of FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, are indicated by the same numbers as used in `FIGURES l to 6.

Referring to the enlarged view of FIGURE 9, a wallet is indicated at i5, a watch at 19, and a lighter at 2i?.

In use, the cam 9 would be turned to .the left releasing its pressure on the folded over end of the container. rThe end can then be pulled through to the left providing an open end into which the hand may be inserted to place objects such as a wallet, 1a watch, car keys or other small valuables. The end is then folded over and pushed under the sealing cam and the cam turned to the right into the position vas shown, thus creating pressure on the folded ends and effecting a water-tight seal.

The cap i5 may then be removed and residual air sucked out of the container, completely collapsing its walls. The cap replaced retains the water-tight integrity of the container. rThis container and belt would then be secured around the waist of the skindiver. The bottom of the belt with the watch in it may be bent out from the body, if desired, so that a better view of the watch in the inner pocket can be obtained. When in .the water the container or belt will tit snugly to the swimmers body and oder the minimum resistance to motion but at the same time keeping the swimrncrs valuables safe and dry.

' l claim:

l. A skindivers belt comprising a tiexible iniiatable or collapsible container portion of substantial length along the belt, an opening in the container and means for closing .the opening, a transparent flexible material forming the outer wall of the container means within the container, for holding a watch so that it may be read while it is in place in the pocket of the container, a flexible tube `attached to the outer wall of the container, the said tube having a removable 4closure for its end, and being adapted for intiating the skindivers belt while it is in place around his body.

2. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 1 `and a ilexible wall inside the container so as to form separate container spaces.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,251,028 2/18 Ryther 24-170 1,314,892. 8/ 19 Glainzo 224-26.7 l1,532,614 4/25 Waibel 21M-26.7 l1,712,109 5/29 Hammer 224-267 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner, 

1. A SKINDIVER''S BELT COMPRISING A FLEXILBE INFLATABLE OR COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER PORTION OF SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH ALONG THE BELT, AN OPENING IN THE CONTAINER AND MEANS FOR CLOSING THE OPENING, A TRANSPARENT FLEXIBLE MATERIAL FORMING THE OUTER WALL OF THE CONTAINER MEANS WITHIN THE CONTAINER, FOR HOLDING A WATCH SO THAT IT MAY BE READ WHILE IT IS IN PLACE IN THE POCKET OF THE CONTAINER, A FLEXIBLE TUBE ATTACHED TO THE OUTER WALL OF THE CONTAINER, THE SAID TUBE HAVING A REMOVABLE CLOSURE FOR ITS END, AND BEING ADAPTED FOR INFLATING THE SKINDIVER''S BELT WHILE IT IS IN PLACE AROUND HIS BODY. 